Seal-lock



(No Model.)

M. J. MORAN.

SEAL LOCK.

No. 394,204. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

7. l'll'l 1 lllll mil UNITE STATES PATENT FFlCE.

MICHAEL J MORAN, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

SEAL-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,204, dated December11, 1888.

Application filed August 6, 1888. Serial No. 282,064. (No model) To allwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MICHAEL J. MORAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kan- City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seal-Locks; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in seal-locks.

The object is to provide simple, durable, and efficient mechanism bymeans of which a car or box may be sealed fortransportation or storage,so that any tampering therewith may be readily detected, and to furtherprovide mechanism of the above chamcter which may be readily applied todoors and covers in common use.

\Vith these ends in view my invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in front elevation of aportion of a car and car-door, showing the seal mechanism in sealedadjustment. Fig. 2 is a central section through the movable staple andits retaining-jaws, the section being taken on the line at 0:: of Fig.l.

A represents the door, and B the door-frame. At a point located at thedesired height, or in the desired position, a hasp, C, is looselysecured to the door by a fixed staple, D. The hasp C is provided at itsfree end with a loop, 0, adapted to slide freely over the bent end 6 ofthe movable staple The said movable staple E is provided with anextended branch, c, the end of which is enlarged and rounded, andprovided with shoulders e? on opposite sides, presenting a blunt spearhead form.

The mechanism for securing the movable staple E in locked adjustment,and for allowing it to be withdrawn for the adjustment of a new seal, isconstructed as follows: A pair of face-plates, F, have their meetingedges squared to form a close tit and provided with half-sockets f,adapted, when the plates are adjusted for use, to register with eachother and form a socket which shall loosely en1- brace the branch 6 ofthe staple E. The

meeting edges of the face-plates F are provided on their inner or undersides with bifurcated lugs G, projecting at right angles to theface-plates, and preferably formed integral therewith. To the outersides of said lugs G, directly beneath the base-plate, the ends of apair of plate-springs, H, are secured by means of screws I, or otherwell-known means, the free ends of the springs extending between thebranches of the bifurcated lugs G and gradually approaching each other,so as to snugly embrace the branch (2 of the staple E above theshoulders c The extreme ends of the springs II are rounded, preferablybybcnding the spring itself over onto itself, as shown at 72. The objectof the rounded ends of the spring is, that when the staple E is turnedin such position as to bring the shoulders c at right angles to theirlocked position the staple E may be drawn outwardly or upwardly betweenthe ends of the springs without havin the latter catch and obstruct suchoutward movement of the staple. Their rounded form admits of their beinggradually pressed apart where their normal position brings their endsnearer together than the thickness of the branch 0 when turned to bedrawn outwardly.

In order to give the springs H an additional bearing and render themstiffer, the branches of the bifurcated lugs Gare connected by bars g,under which the springs extend. The bars 9 have a curve corresponding tothe arc of a circle whose diameter is the width of the lugs G, and hencethe said bars serve an important purpose in holding the lugs and platesfirmly in position in their socket in the doorframe.

The seal which I find it convenient to use consists of a disk ofpasteboard, K, prepared with some water proof material where exposed tothe weather; or it may be formed of any well-known frangible materialnot liable to break by jolting, but which will surely become mutilatedby the removal of the hasp. The disk K is provided with a hole, 7;, bymeans of which it is slipped over the bent end 6 of the staple E whenadjusted for use.

The parts are assembled as follows: The movable staple E is placed withits branch e in the socket between the meet-ing ends of the base-plateF, and the base-plates are then placed in position in a suitable recessand socket formed in the door-frame, and are bolted therein by bolts L,or by any other fastening which will secure them against removal fromthe outside by other than forced means. The door is then closed, thehasp placed over the end of the staple E, the seal slipped onto the endof said staple, the latter swung in position with its shoulders eopposite the ends of the springs H, and the said staple then pressedinwardly, so that the end of the hasp will embrace both branches of itsbent end, and the shoulders 8 will be below or inside of the ends of thesprings H. In this position it will be observed that the hasp cannot beremoved from the top of the movable staple E without mutilating the sealK, the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the loop 6 inthe hasp C. To further secure the hasp in locked position, the bent pinN, secured to the door-frame by a chain, a, and staple M, is insertedthrough the bent end of the staple E outside of the hasp.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a movable staple, a hasp, and a seal, of a pairof clamping springjaws in engagement with the opposites sides of onebranch of the staple, the staple having a free movement between the jawswhen turned in one direction and locked by the jaws when turned in adifferent direction, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the movable staple provided with a beveled endand a shoulder, of a spring-j aw constructed to engage the shoulder andprevent the withdrawal of the staple when the latter is turned in oneposition and allow the passage of the staple when it is turned intoanother position, the hasp to embrace the staple, the seal, and thelocking device.

' 3. The combination, with the movcble staple having a blunt spear-headon one of its branches, of the two-part face-plate to secure the staplein position and the spring secured to the socket-plates in position toengage the opposite sides of the movable staple, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination, with the movable staple provided with an enlargedend on one of its branches and with shoulders on opposite sides of thebranch, of a two-part face-plate, the meeting edges of which areprovided with half-sockets to embrace the staple, the said face-platesbeing further provided with bifurcated lugs, springs secured to thelugs, their free ends extending between the branches thereof to engagethe staple, and means for securing the face-plates against removal fromthe outside, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the removable staple "provided with shoulderson the opposite sides of one of its branches, of the two-part face-plateprovided with half-sockets to embrace the staple, the said face-platesbeing further provided with bifurcated lugs, the branches of which areconnected by crossbars, springs secured to the lugs and extendingbeneath the cross-bars and between the branches of the lugs to engagethe staple, and means for securing the base-plate, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

MICHAEL J. MORAN.

Witnesses:

BESSIE E. YOUNG, LENA MAcKEY.

